September 2011
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What's Your Number
Fun, easy-to-enjoy fluff, this formulaic rom-com is elevated above other by-the-numbers offerings thanks to its two like(& fuck)able leads - Anna Faris and Chris Evans.
***

Red State
Crassly and glibly Red State could be described as one-part Hostel, one-part Assault on Precinct 13, but with barbed political over-and-undercurrents plus some typical viewaskew-isms mixed in.
****

Warrior
The second family-focused fighting flick for 2011, Warrior's MMA scorecard shows a narrow loss to the superior straight boxing The Fighter thanks to its adherence to formula and its final round of predictability.
****

Tucker & Dale vs Evil
A real, rare and no doubt destined-to-be undiscovered gem, T&D is a slasher horror-comedy heavy on the gore but with gags to spare that should proudly sit amongst any horror aficionado's film collection.
****

Killer Elite
Killer Elite is a thrilling, retro, action-packed, marvelo-moustachioed treat.
****

Drive
I have borne witness to the coolest man+car(s)+film combo since Steve McQueen reigned behind the wheel in Bullitt and that flick is Refn & Ryan Gosling's pulpy, pop culture cool, 80s vibing, character-led, stylish and sporadically violent thriller Drive.
*****

Crazy, Stupid, Love.
A crazy, stupid, surprising success, this is a dramatic rom-com the likes of which we haven't seen since the double-Braff of Garden State and The Last Kiss.
****

Conan the Barbarian 2011
In the wake of Momoa's other barbarian role in the (vastly superior) Game of Thrones, this remake/imagining/boot/dux of Robert E Howard's sword 'n' sorcery pulp fiction is a disappointment and not a patch on the awesome one-man Arnie adap.
**

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Convoluted. Stylish. Slow burn. Talky. Suspenseful. Subtle. Smart. If Drive is the modern cool Bullitt, then TTSS is the modern clever The Ipcress File.
****

The Change-Up
The set-up of The Change-Up is a review in itself: a raunch-com restyling of the well-worn but always entertaining body swap genre. There's little more and no less, but whether you enjoy this or not should be more than just a guess.
***

30 Minutes or Less
An 80s wish-fulfilment comedy with a modern, post-geek clique, frat pack, potty-mouthed spin, 30 Minutes or Less is a funny screwball caper follow-up to the hilarious zom-com horror Zombieland. Quick, slick and quotable, it does end a bit abrupt th...
****

Friends with Benefits
An It coupling with real chemistry, Kunis & Timberlake's fast-talkin', quick quipping elevates this formulaic raunch-com above its predictable, one-note [Grand Central] Station. Sweet 'n' sexy fun.
***

Colombiana
It's hardly original, in fact it moves from pastiche-piece to pastiche-piece, but Colombiana is some [more] solid, blockbusting-Besson action fare.
***

Kill List
A curious hybrid of hitman and horror, this Britpop/Wicker Man mash-up has its moments, though it never reaches the "five-star...best British genre film in years" high as championed by the likes of Total Film magazine.
***

Fright Night
Best watched alongside fellow “watch thy neighbour” flick Disturbia, Fright Night 2011 is a fresh ‘n’ fun (s)take on a well-bloodied genre. Terrible CGI though.
***